"In the camps we often encountered our brother-clergymen and secretly
served Liturgy, sometimes on a wooden crate, sometimes on somebody's
back; at that time we did not stop to think whether such things were permissible. The thirst to be in union with Christ was stronger than
any hindrance.
Sometimes our people from outside would send us the Holy
Gifts. There, behind the bars and barbed wire, as in some Orthodox
mission, we secretly performed all the church mysteries - baptized,
performed weddings and burials, and preached.
It has been recorded that a
certain anti-Sergianist priest, Father Alexander, every day would come
to work early, at dawn, and on a tree stump, kneeling, would serve the
Divine Liturgy. Several people saw how a beam of light descended from
heaven and entered his chalice, transfiguring him and those around him."
(From the memoirs of Princess Natalia Urusova*, 1874-1963).
* Princess Natalia was a member of the Russian Orthodox Catacomb Church who later became a spiritual daughter of Vladyka Averky of Jordanville. She was the mother of three Martyrs of the Catacomb Church and was highly praised by Fr. Seraphim Rose for her discernment.
(From the memoirs of Princess Natalia Urusova*, 1874-1963).
* Princess Natalia was a member of the Russian Orthodox Catacomb Church who later became a spiritual daughter of Vladyka Averky of Jordanville. She was the mother of three Martyrs of the Catacomb Church and was highly praised by Fr. Seraphim Rose for her discernment.